Push-button switch.



A. K. SUTHEHLAND. PUSH BUTTON SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG.3, 1916.

Patented July 24, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER K. SUTHERI-AAND, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE TRUMIBULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH.

Patented July 24, 1917.

' Application flied August 8, 1916. Serial No. 113,008.

To all whom it may concern: A

Be 1t known that I, ALEXANDER K. SUTH- nnLANn, a citizen of Canada, subject of King George V of England, residing at New parts will be thrown with a quick action so as to avoid injurious arcing.

Briefly considered, the invention contemplates a stationary supporting frame, rocker and switch elements pivotally carried by the frame 'a spring connecting the rocker and switch elements, and push button operating elements connected to the rocker. All

of these parts are preferably mounted in an insulating housing, box or receptacle. Theframe, rocker. and switch elements are especially constructed and arranged, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The contacts of the switch element are mounted so as to be self-adjusting and readily replaceable. The push button elements are connected so as to serve as stops for their own movement. The stationary terminals are arranged so that they canbe readily adj ust ed to properly coact with the movable contact members.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a construction embodying the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the plane of the line 2-2, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the switch parts in an intermediate position of movement.

Fig. 4 is a drop perspective view of the movable parts and the stationary supporting frame.

The receptacle or housing 1G is preferably of insulating material.

A supporting frame is formed of sheet metal and consists of the base 11 with sides 12'12 which are provided with sl'ots13, A pair'of oppositelyfaced shoulders 14 is provided at theupper end of each slot. Thev .frame is secured to the housing by screws 15.

The switch element consists of a U-shaped carrier 16, an outer contact 17 and an inner contact 18. The carrier is provided with parts 19whi-ch fit loosely in the bottom of the slots 13 so that the carrier can switch from side to side. Tangs 20 may also be provided to prevent accidental displacement of the pivot parts l9 of the carrier. The outer contact 17 has a cross bar 2 1 which rests on the cross bar 22 of the carrier. These bars 21-22 are provided, respectively, with interfitting slots 23 and pro- JGCtlOnS 24 which permit the bar 21 to slide longitudinally of the bar 22 slightly, but

prevent relative transverse movement. By

havin .a portion of the contact member loope downward, as at 25, a better spring action is provided. The inner contact member 18 is provided with a cross bar 26 which rests on the topof the cross bar 21. The

cross bar 26 is provided with slots or openings 27 corresponding to the openings 23 to co-act with the projections 24.

The rocker has the two sides 30 connected by a cross bar 31, and each side has a projecting trunnion or pivot 32 whichfits in the u per end of the slot 13, being held from isengagement' vertically b the shoulders 1 1' when the parts are in t eir normal operative. relation. The lower end of the spring 33 is hooked around the center of the cross bar 31. The upper end of the spring is hooked around the central ortion of the cross bar 26. This spring, being in tension, tends to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 since the connection to the cross bar 31 of the rocker is to the left of the plane joining the axis ofthe trunnions 19' and the center of the cross bar 26 of the movable switch element. When the rocker' The shanks 35 of the push buttons are preferably provided with holes 36 adapted to receive the hooks 37 on the rocker. The partsmay be assembled from the position shown at the right in Fig. 4. The lower end 38 of the push button shankacts as a stop. against the base plate 11, as shown atthe' right in Fig. 2, so as to limit the movement of the rocker. Shoulders 39 may be P11 normally disenga ed b havin'g its ends pivoted to the same shown is vided at the upper corners of the supporting frame 12 to limit the throw of the carrier 16 of the switch element.

The push buttons may be yoke 40 in the usual manner.

Each of the stationary switch contacts 414243 and 44 tion such as 45, which receives a binding screw, such as 46.. Each terminal is secured in place by means of a screw 47. By this construction it is possible to effect a perfect adjustment of the contacts, even after the switch is assembled, or after the switch is installed, if necessary. The type of switch a 3-way switch in which two of the stationary switch contacts on opposite ends of the casing are electrically connected, for instance, by a bar 48 in the base of the housing. Although the widths ofthe trunnions 19 and 32 are substantially the same as the width of the slots 13, the parts will not be upward movement, because of the s oul ers 14, but may .be readily disengaged by tilting the rocker and switch element so as to allow the trunnions to be withdrawn edgewise between the shoulders 14.

What I- claim is:

1. In a snap. switch, a supporting frame having upstanding side members, a contact carrying yokehaving dependent side members pivoted to the frame, said side members being connected by a cross-bar, a pair of contact members mounted upon the cross bar, said contact members and said crossbar having interengaging parts which per- -mit self-adjusting transverse movement of the contact members, a rocker member piv oted to the supporting frame, push buttons connected to the rocker member and a spring connecting the contact members to the rocker member and retaining the contact members in interlocked relation to the contact carryin yoke.

- 2. In com ination in a push button switch, asupporting frame, a

contact carryin yoke rame,

A an outer contact member and an inner contact -member mounted upon the yoke and having slidin engagement therewith, a rocker 'pivote 'to 'the supporting frame, push buttons'pivoted to t e rocker and a spring connecting the contact members to the rocker and retaining the said contact members in transversely adjustable interlocked relation to the surface of the yoke on a which th are mounted.

v a pair of ing'at one 3. In a snap switch,-the combination of aninsulating housing open at its outer face,

cured adjacent the outer face of said housend thereof, and having contact portions substantially parallel to the sides of said housing adjacent the outer face thereof, a supporting frame secured in said guided by. a

is integral with the pora switch element pivotally ward said base, a sprin rocker and said movable switch member and stationary circuit terminals se- 1 housing, a carrier pivoted in said frame near the bottom of the housing, outwardly projecting spring contact arms carried by said carrier and spaced apart from each other whereby they are adapted to simultaneously engage the stationary contactportions at the outer face of said housing, a rocker pivotally supported in said frame, a spring connection between said rocker and said carrier and push buttons connected to the opposite ends of said rocker, one of said push buttons being located between said stationary contact portions.

4. In a snap switch, a supporting frame, a carrier pivotally mounted therein and having a cross bar, an outer switch contact having a cross bar mounted on the cross bar of the carrier, an inner contact having a cross bar mounted on the cross bar of theouter contact, a rocker, a spring connecting said rocker and said contacts, and means for operating said rocker.

In a snap switch, a supporting frame, carried thereby and comprising, a carrier having a cross bar, an outer member having a cross bar and spring contact ends, and an inner member also having a cross bar and spring contact ends, one cross bar being mounted on the other cross bar and means for connecting said cross bars whereby one member may be moved transversely relative to the other member. 5

6. In a snap switch, a pivoted carrier having a cross bar and a switch contact element mounted on said cross bar and comprising two members, one member having looped portions at opposite ends terminating in radially extending spring contact arms, and the other member having radiall extending spring contact arms substantiall parallel with the contactarms of the first mentioned member and located between the same, stationary contacts adapted to be en-- gaged by said spring contact arms and means for operating said carrier and contact arms. I

7. In a snap switch, an insulating housing and switch mechanism adapted to be inserted as a unit therein and comprising a supporting frame having a base and side portions, a movable switch member pivotally supported by said side portions, a rocker pivotally supported by said side portions and having pairs of oppositely disposed arms terminating in hooks facing toconnecting said ushv buttons having shanks, each shank having a pair of openings adapted to receive a pair of, hooks on the rocker when the shank is tilted out of its normal operative position, and each shank having a portion projecting beyond the hooks and adapted to engage the base of the supporting frame when the push button is pushed inwai; 11y, whereby the inward thrust of the push utton is taken up directly by the base of the supporting frame, said housing serving to prevent the lateral displacement of the push buttons when the parts are assembled in the housing.

8. In a snap switch, a support, a pivotally mounted carrier on said support having a cross-bar, switch contacts mounted on said "cross-bar, said contacts and crowbar hav ing interlocking slots and projections and 'a spring for throwing said carrier engaging the switch contacts to thereby confine said switch contacts to the cross-bar and to hold the interlocking slots and projections in engagement.

9. In a snap switch a frame having upstanding sides, a carrier having sides located outside the sides of the frame and pivoted at their lower ends to said frame, contacts mounted on said carrier, a rocker pivoted between the sides of the frame, a spring connecting the carrier and rocker and means for operating the rocker.

10. In a snap switch, the combination of an insulating housing open at one faceand closed at the bottom, a supporting frame secured to the bottom of the housing and having sides extending toward the open face, said sides having open ended slots and stop shoulders at opposite sides of said slots, a carrier having lugs pivotally mounted in the bottom of said slots, switch contact arms carried by said carrier and extending toward the open face of said housing, a rocker pivoted in the outer ends of said slots, a spring connecting said carrier and said rocker, push buttons connected to the opposite ends of said rocker .and extending beyond the open face of said housing for oscillating said carrier between said stops, and stationary contacts adjacent the outer face of said housing adapted to be engaged by said contact arms.

ALEXANDER K. SUTHERLAND. 

